The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning everyone!

If you’re a windsurfer or kiter, get it today, because Mother Nature’s heavy hand shuts down the west winds for the next four days or so. Today, we’re starting off with a .08 gradient and winds in the upper teens from Stevenson out to Mosier. This unlikely wind is driven by an unlikely cutoff low in the desert combined with high pressure off the coast.

It’s going to be 16-19 from Stevenson to Mosier early, building to 19-23 by midday and holding til late. Rowena and Doug’s catch the action too, late this afternoon. The kiteboard blowout people end up with a day to practice today, after postponing the event until next weekend.

After today, high pressure builds over the entire northwest, shutting down the wind. The 100 degree barrier falls on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, making for fabulous swimming weather all over the Gorge. Great, right? I’m thinking Punchbowl, or maybe going up to the mountain and rolling around in the snow. Anyway, grab your sunscreen, your beach towel, your surfboard or paddleboard, and head to your favorite Columbia River beach.

If you’re desperate for wind, your best bet will be either Jones Beach (but it was only 18 there today) or the coast from Florence down to Bandon. 15-20 knots is the call at the coast for the next three days. Combine that with a 7 foot swell, and you’re looking at some fabulous kiting down there. If you have a 100L board and a 5.7, you might be windsurfing as well. Honestly, I’m not sure it’s going to be windy enough to make the drive. Surfing, anyone?

If you’re sticking it out around here, think road biking. The wind won’t be here to push you around, so you can take the 7-mile and China Gorge curves as fast as you like. Or… my vote is a ride to Lost Lake, where you can probably get an ice cream bar at the top of the ride. Can anyone confirm the availability of ice cream at Lost Lake?

Finally, as many of you may have heard, local climber/skier/windsurfer Jeremy Flanagan passed away on Thursday. His friends and family have a memorial/celebration of life planned this evening at the Hood River Waterfront Park at 7:30 pm.

Stay cool today, and whatever you do, have an awesome day!

Morning everyone! Since none of you showed up with a pot of strong coffee this morning, I’m going back to bed. First, though, your forecast.

Today is day three of the windsurfing national championships at the Hood River Event site. It’s also kiteboard blowout day today! Or at least, they’re going to try later. If you’re up for the challenge, meet at the east point launch at Stevenson. Skippers’ meeting is at 11am. If there’s no wind by 2 or so, they’ll call it off and run it tomorrow. Speaking of wind…

Against all odds, westerlies hold their ground this weekend. A cutoff low hunkers down in the desert and high pressure digs in off the coast. Despite the heat, the wind will blow in blowdryer style. Weak gradients and light wind this morning build to 17-20 by early afternoon from Stevenson down to Mosier. The wind shifts eastward late in the day, giving the doug’s, rowena and lyle crowd their shot at 19-23.

Tomorrow looks quite similar to today, but a little warmer. As the mercury climbs to 90 in Portland and near 100 in The Dalles, the high-low pressure combo keeps the westerlies going. Watch for 17-21 in the morning and 22-24 in the afternoon. At this point, it looks like the wind will finally die Monday, with temperatures nearing 100 in both Portland and Hood River.

In other news this weekend, Washougal Motocross track hosts the Lucas Oil Motocross nationals today. There’s the Hood River fair for your cotton-candy eating enjoyment… last day is today.

Also tomorrow is the unofficial and unsupported swim for the red buoy under the Hood River bridge. Unofficially, this group of very strong swimmers meets at the east end of the Hood River inn at 7:30 every Sunday morning.

If you’re still looking for more stuff to do (organized bike rides or anything else I happen to think cool), check out the activity calendar on the homepage here . Speaking of, if you’re on Twitter, don’t forget to tweet your windsurfing/kiting onsite reports. Windsurfers, tag with #gorgewind, and kiters, tag with #gorgekite. In your tweet, include location, average sail/kite size, time, and current conditions. (I can’t wait for the first time Dave Brown tweets “don’t come to the Wall – direction all wrong” or Dayna Reed says “I’m at Arlington. 3pm. It’s 3.2 and it’s a C-. No swell. Don’t drive.”) See the utility of this?

Whatever you do today, have an awesome day!